Fall 2017/18 Haute Couture Hair & Makeup Inspiration

As Reported By Dana Wood, Beauty DIRECTOR

 

Naturally pretty: That isn’t a vibe one often associates with the hair and makeup at the semi-annual Couture Shows in Paris. Typically couture acts as an edgy idea lab for the ready-to-wear season that follows, and it often serves up all manner of “out there” and decidedly un-bridal looks.

Happily and beautifully that wasn’t the case this season. For the spate of shows that wrapped on July 7th, soft feathery hair and ultra-feminine makeup ruled the runways.

Here are some of the most bride-worthy looks to emerge from the 'City of Light' last week.

 

CHRISTIAN DIOR

Brushed-Up Brows

courtesy of getty images

courtesy of getty images

Definitely one of the prettiest looks of the season (I expect to see lots of pick-up at the upcoming ready-to-wear shows), these caterpillar numbers were soft and airy – a perfect complement to the pre-Raphaelite textured tresses.

 

VALENTINO

Icicle Eyes

COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES

COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES

Paired with a middle part and bare face, a simple slice of white really made those peepers pop.

 

ELIE SAAB

Faux Glow

courtesy of getty images

courtesy of getty images

Shades of russet and ochre gave Saab’s girls sun-kissed sexiness.  

 

GIORGIO ARMANI PRI

Smoke Meets Veil

COURTESY OF AP PHOTO/THIBAULT CAMUS

COURTESY OF AP PHOTO/THIBAULT CAMUS

For any bride who wants to know how a smokey eye will “read’ through a veil on her big day, we give you Exhibit A: Molto impact.

 

GIAMBATTISTA VALLI

The Red Vinyl Lip

courtesy of getty imageS

courtesy of getty imageS

As the bold focal point of a nearly-naked face, shiny crimson kissers lent Valli’s ethereal silhouettes a dash of sizzle.

 

FENDI

Side-Parted Crimping

courtesy of Getty images

courtesy of Getty images

Spotted elsewhere, side parts and crimping were having a moment. At Fendi, it looks like gel may have been added to the mix, amping up the shine.

 

ALEXANDRE VAUTHIER

Chiseled Cheeks

COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES

COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES

Show-opener Bella Hadid certainly didn't need any contouring, but not every catwalker is blessed with her exquisite bone structure. That’s where a little artificial definition can come in handy.

 

ZUHAIR MURAD

Artful Stray Strands

courtesy of wwd

courtesy of wwd

Citing Gibson Girls as his inspiration, Murad took the week’s biggest hair look, textured crimping, and pushed it a touch further with wispy stray strands pulled gently across the forehead. One after one these girls were undone. 

 

ULYANA SERGEENKO

40s-Era Femme Fatale

courtesy of wwd

courtesy of wwd

With her grandmother as her muse, Sergeenko channeled women who knew their way around a bobby-pinned Marcel wave and a crimson lippy. The end result? Edgy and chic.

-

-

-

 

Meet Dana Wood!

courtesy of DANA WOOD

courtesy of DANA WOOD

Dana Wood has been writing about hair and makeup since before Victoria Beckham was a Spice Girl.

A twenty-year veteran of Condé Nast, Dana has served as Beauty Director for Brides, Cookie and W Magazine and has written for numerous other national publications, including GlamourInStyle and Town & Country. As a published author, accomplished blogger and brand copywriter, she currently contributes to  the New York Post ALEXA and The Wall Street Journal, and her most recent digital venture, FloridaBeautyProblems.com

Dana is thrilled to once again bring her trend-analysis skills to bridal, AKA "The Olympics of Beauty."

Click here for more from Dana Wood.